Playing it safe! Cate Blanchett goes from most expensive Oscars dress ever to a simple black gown... but lends a pop of colour with standout Tiffany choker

She wowed on the Oscars red carpet last year in an epic couture gold embellished Armani gown and jewels - which cost a combined whopping $18.1 million.

And after wearing the most expensive outfit ever worn at the Oscars in 2014, this year Cate Blanchett went for a more subtle look in a sophisticated John Galliano for Maison Margiela dress.

The two-time Oscar winner, who presented the Academy Award for Best Actor, teamed the sleek high-necked black number with a statement Tiffany & Co. turquoise necklace.

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Statuesque: Cate Blanchett stuns in a long black sophisticated John Galliano for Maison Margiela dress which she teamed with a statement Tiffany And Co. turquoise necklace

Statement necklace: Adding even more emphasis on the striking multi-beaded accessory the 45-year-old wore her blonde hair swept back into a high up-do

Cate's statement piece of jewellery featured a collection of delicate turquoise and aquamarine stones littered with diamonds in square, rectangular and round cuts.

Each piece in the unique, bib style necklace was hand placed into the platinum setting and it appears in the retailer's upcoming 2015 Blue Book collection.

Meanwhile, her floor-length frock, with fraying detail around the shoulders, could be seen sweeping along the red carpet behind her as she held onto a simple black clutch.

The three-time Golden Globe winner, who is married to playwright Andrew Upton with whom she has their three sons - Dashiell, 13, Roman, 10, and Ignatius, six, looked very comfortable in the conservative ensemble and continuously flashed her megawatt smile.

Exquisite: She wowed on the Oscars red carpet last year in an epic couture Armani gold gown and jewels - which cost a combined $18.1 million

Striking: The floor-length frock, with light feathered detailing around the shoulders, could be seen sweeping along the red carpet behind her as she held onto a simple black clutch

Presenting: The two-time Oscar winner presented the Academy Award for Best Actor which was won by Eddie Redmayne

Oscars moment: The blonde beauty reached out and cupped the actor's face in a sign of affection

Despite the dress almost completely covering her tall frame, it featured a large cut out detail at the back.

Adding even more emphasis on the striking multi-beaded and diamond accessory, the 45-year-old wore her blonde hair swept back into a high up-do.

Her makeup was minimal with a pale pink lip, some light blush on her cheeks and black kohl around her sparkly green eyes.

The Blue Jasmine actress will next play Lady Tremaine in Disney's Cinderella - hitting US theatres March 13 - with Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter, and Derek Jacobi.

Sweet: The pair shared a hug on stage before Cate handed over the gong

Congratulations: The mother-of-three couldn't have been happier to hand over the award to the Theory Of Everything star

Good times: The two shared laugh backstage

Winner: They posed for photos with the statuette after leaving the stage

In a shot posted onto Instagram by her heavy weight celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart before Cate headed out in front of the flashbulbs, she could be seen surrounded by the team behind her amazing look.

Along with the shot Elizabeth commented: 'Cate Blanchett out the door in John Galliano for Maison Margiela.'

It was another memorable look from the Australia actress.

This guy: Eddie beat off competition from Steve Carell, Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatc and Michael Keaton to take out the title

Do you want this? Cate handed the winner the envelope for a keep sake

Huge honour: Eddie could hardly wipe the smile from his face

Picture perfect: Cate was the picture of sophistication as she took to the stage to present the award

Last year her embellished nude dress was from the Armani Prive Fall 2013 Collection cost an estimated $100,000, according to Vogue.

But it was the jewellery – all of which was on loan – which pushed her outfit’s cost into the stratosphere.

The actress wore dramatic earrings from Swiss-based luxury jewellers, Chopard, which had 62 opals set in white gold as she won Best Actress at the 86th Academy Awards, beating competition from American Hustle's Amy Adams and Gravity's Sandra Bullock.

Subtle: Despite Cate's dress almost completely covering her tall frame, it featured a large cut out detail at the back

Bold: It also featured a dramatic train that trailed behind her as she walked the red carpet

Stunner: The simple design was very flattering and simply elegant

The star accepted the accolade from 2013 Best Actor winner Daniel Day Lewis.

She also wore a brown diamond bracelet and a pear-shaped diamond ring, both from Chopard, bringing the total cost of her jewellery to approximately $18 million.

Cate’s choice of jewellery may have been a nod to her Australian home, as both opals and brown diamonds are commonly found in Australian mines.

New film: The Blue Jasmine actress will next play Lady Tremaine in Disney's Cinderella - hitting US theatres March 13 - with Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter, and Derek Jacob

Stylish: It was another memorable look from the Australia actress who never fails to put on a good show at red carpet events

Her team: Cate's celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart shared this shot of the Australia beauty surrounded by her glam squad just before she released onto the red carpet

Beauty: Cate certainly stood out from the crowd in her statuesque ensemble

Simply stunning: Her statement necklace featured delicate turquoise and aquamarine stones littered with diamonds in square, rectangular and round cuts

ACADEMY AWARDS 2015: FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS

Best Picture

Birdman - WINNER

American Sniper

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Selma

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

Best Director

Alexandro G. Inarritu, Birdman - WINNER

Richard Linklater, Boyhood

Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher

Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game

Best Actor

Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything - WINNER

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher

Bradley Cooper, American Sniper

Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game

Michael Keaton, Birdman

Best Actress

Julianne Moore, Still Alice - WINNER

Marion Cotillard, Two Days One Night

Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything

Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl

Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Best Supporting Actor

J.K. Simmons, Whiplash - WINNER

Robert Duvall, The Judge

Ethan Hawke, Boyhood

Edward Norton, Birdman

Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood - WINNER

Laura Dern, Wild

Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game

Emma Stone, Birdman

Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

Best Cinematography

Birdman – Emmanuel Lubezki - WINNER

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Robert Yeoman

Ida – Lukasz Zal & Ryszard Lenczewski

Mr. Turner – Dick Pope

Unbroken – Roger Deakin

Best Foreign Language Film

Ida - WINNER

Leviathan

Tangerines

Timbuktu

Wild Tales

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Imitation Game - WINNER

American Sniper

Inherent Vice

The Theory of Everything

Whiplash

Best Original Screenplay

Birdman - WINNER

Boyhood

Foxcatcher

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Nightcrawler

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

The Grand Budapest Hotel - WINNER

Foxcatcher

Guardians of the Galaxy

Best Original Score

The Grand Budapest Hotel - WINNER

The Imitation Game

Interstellar

Mr. Turner

The Theory of Everything

Best Original Song

'Glory,' Selma - WINNER

'Lost Stars,' Begin Again

'Everything is Awesome,' The LEGO Movie

'Grateful,' Beyond the Lights

'I'm Not Gonna Miss You,' Glen Campbell…I'll Be Me

Best Animated Feature

Big Hero 6 - WINNER

The Boxtrolls

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Song of the Sea

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Best Documentary—Short

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 - WINNER

Joanna

Our Curse

The Reaper

White Earth

Best Film Editing

Whiplash - WINNER

American Sniper

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Imitation Game

Best Production Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel - WINNER

The Imitation Game

Interstellar

Into the Woods

Mr. Turner

Best Animated Short

Feast - WINNER

The Bigger Picture

The Dam Keeper

Feast

Me and My Moulton

A Single Life

Best Live Action Short

The Phone Call - WINNER

Aya

Boogaloo and Graham

Butter Lamp

Parvaneh

Best Sound Editing

American Sniper - WINNER

Birdman

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Interstellar

Unbroken

Best Sound Mixing

Whiplash - WINNER

American Sniper

Birdman

Interstellar

Unbroken

Best Visual Effects

Interstellar - WINNER

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Guardians of the Galaxy

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Best Documentary — Feature

Citizenfour - WINNER

Finding Vivien Maier

Last Days of Vietnam

The Salt of the Earth

Virunga

Best Costume Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel - WINNER

Inherent Vice

Into the Woods

Maleficent

Mr. Turner

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cate blanchett oscar gown
Cate Blanchett - IMDb

"Cate Blanchett is one of the most award-winning and outstanding actresses of her generation, ... More

"Cate Blanchett is one of the most award-winning and outstanding actresses of her generation, delivering extraordinary performances throughout her career including her Academy Award-winning roles as Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator and the title role in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine," said Festival Chairman Harold Matzner. "In her latest films Carol and Truth, Blanchett yet again brings to life two vibrant characters, both worthy of awards recognition. It is our honor to present the 2016 Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress, to Cate Blanchett."

Cate Blanchett's Oscar'14 Gown: Most Expensive Red Carpet Gown

Life

oi-Amrisha

|
Published: Friday, March 21, 2014, 22:15 [IST]

Not only Cate Blanchett, winner of the Best Actress Oscar Award this year, stunned everyone with her performance on screen, but she was also the most expensively dressed celebrity at the red carpet of Oscars 2014.

Cate Blanchett, who wore a golden Armani Prive sequinned gown at Oscars 2014 red carpet, has gathered all the attention. Cate Blanchett has won another appreciation this year for wearing the most expensive outfit out of all the other A-listers at Oscars 2014.

Cate Blanchett was the toast of the Tinseltown after she won the Best Actress Oscar 2014 for her role in 'Blue Jasmine'. However, her gorgeous nude coloured Armani Prive gown has made her get best-dressed Oscars vote with 23 per cent of the overall vote.

Cate Blanchett wore a nude coloured crystal-embellished couture gown by Armani Prive worth a staggering ?60,000. Apart from the dress, Cate Blanchett wore some really expensive jewellery which has made her top the list of most expensive red carpet looks at the 2014 Academy Awards.

BEST DRESSED AT OSCARS 2014 RED CARPET

Cate Blanchett wore the Armani Prive with ?11million of Chopard jewellery which included earrings of 62 opals with a combined 33 carats, a brown diamond bracelet and a pear-shaped diamond ring. Meanwhile, Cate Blanchett's Oscar speech has impressed Emma Stone.

Emma Stone, who is busy attending premieres and photo call of 'Spider Man 2' at different locations, spoke about the women-centric movies on which Cate also spoke at the Oscars stage. Emma said, "I would hope so. Remember Cate Blanchett's Oscar speech? How great was that. Hell yeah!"

20 CRAZY MOMENTS FROM OSCARS

We think that Cate Blanchett's Oscar 2014 gown and overall look has impressed all of us. That is why, Cate was indeed one of the best dressed celebrities at Oscars 2014 red carpet.

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Lupita Nyong'o, Amy Adams and Cate Blanchett best dressed at Oscars

Battle for the best dressed! Jennifer Lawrence, Sandra Bullock and Angelina Jolie bring out award-winning looks

By Ellie Genower and Baz Bamigboye

Published: 21:59 BST, 2 March 2014 | Updated: 17:56 BST, 5 March 2014

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It is the biggest night in showbusiness and the greatest fashion show on earth.

And the leading ladies of Hollywood brought out their best award-worthy looks to the Oscar red carpet at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday.

Fashion star of the season: Lupita told E! that she chose the pale blue Prada colour as it reminded her of Nairobi as she arrived at Sunday's Oscar ceremony in Hollywood

Glamming up the carpet: Charlize Theron, Cate Blanchett, Amy Adams and Lupita Nyong'o were the belles of the Oscar ball at Sunday's Academy Awards red carpet

Lupita, who has become a firm fashion favourite over award season, said she chose the gown as it reminded her of her native Kenya.

'This is Prada and it was made for me,' she told E!'s Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. 'It's a blue that reminds me of the Nairobi sky.'

The 31-year-old actress is nominated for her role as Patsey in Steve McQueen movie 12 Years A Slave in her first major role after acting school.

'I've just felt so blessed that my first job after school had got me so much recognition,' she told Seacrest. 'I didn't grow up watching the Oscars but it's something I came to understand what a big deal it was when I was in college.'

First time ceremony: The 12 Years A Slave star seemed cool, calm and collected, despite it being her first Oscars

Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett, who has so far cleaned up over awards season, dazzled in a nude fairytale Giorgio Armani Prive gown with silver beading detail. 'It's heavy but I love it,' she said.

And as if hinting that she was looking forward to what has been a long award season, she told E! 'I hope my wheels are on tonight because it's a long way until the end of the carpet.'

She happily greeted her Blue Jasmine co-star Sally Hawkins who arrived in beaded Valentino and has also been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress prize.

A grand entrance: Sandra Bullock arrived in a navy blue Alexander McQueen gown, hoping to scoop her second Best Actress Oscar

Hoping for the win: Sandra Bullock looked stunning in her midnight blue gown before the ceremony

Anne Hathaway, who scooped the gong for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Les Miserables last year, looked sophisticated in a black Gucci halterneck dress with metallic detail and a slit in the back.

Good to see you: Leonardo DiCaprio embraces his Django Unchained co-star Christoph Waltz on the red carpet

Top of his profession: Jonah Hill impressed with his performance on Wolf Of Wall Street

Mature-looking Emma Watson appeared a far cry from the youngster who first appeared in the Harry Potter films, arriving in a shimmering Vera Wang gown with crimson lipstick completing the look. The British star was among the presenters at the show.

Leonardo DiCaprio greeted his Wolf Of Wall Street co-star on the red carpet while their other co-star Margot Robbie showed off her new brunette hairstyle - looking markedly different in a strapless black gown with bow detail in the back.

Oscar nominees Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey joined many of the male attendees in wearing white tuxedos to the bash.

Family support: Jared Leto arrived with his mother Constance and brother Shannon

The dark side: Wolf Of Wall Street star Margot Robbie showed off her new brunette hairstyle

All eyes on me: Jessica Biel takes centre stage on the carpet

Hot metal! Jessica Biel arrived in a shimmering strapless gown with small train and dazzling jewels on the Oscars red carpet by Tiffany & Co.

'I always loved that old school vibe and I never really wear suits,' Jared told Seacrest when quizzed about his YSL fashion choice, 'It was just a fun opportunity to be in an old school classic.'

Jared arrived at the event with his mother Constance and he paid tribute to her on the red carpet.

'It's fun to share it with my mom,' he said. 'This is a woman who against all odds was able to make a life for herself and my brother and she taught us so much about creativity and work and living our dreams so it's really fun to share this dream with her.'

Don't step on the gown! Kristen Bell was cautious about her stunning white gown

Stunning: Kristen lead the early arrivals at The Dolby Theatre in her dramatic number

Still looking good: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell looked every inch the glamour couple on the red carpet

There were plenty of solid colours on the carpet, with classic dark blues and blacks joined by jewel tones, including a bright green Vera Wang for Viola Davis, along with paler looks like Portia de Rossi, who wore an ivory Naeem Khan with a beaded halter.

Portia was on hand to support wife - Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres who was too busy preparing backstage than to walk the carpet.

The Arrested Development actress told USA Today she and the host planned to 'hit some parties' after the show but wouldn't be staying out late due to Ellen taping her talk show on Monday.

Family affair: Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corinne were among the attendees, while Michael Fassbender was joined by his mother Adelle

Suited and booted: Benedict Cumberbatch, Christoph Waltz, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bill Murray were all among the presenters at the show

Captain Phillips stars Barkhad Abdi and Faysal Ahmed had good fun on the red carpet while Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh sported their own take on the suit with the singer and producer wearing cropped trousers.

Giuliana Rancic and Kelly Osbourne, who as hosts for E!, were early arrivals at the event and didn't seem too concerned about getting wet in the lingering drizzle, arriving armed with umbrellas to combat the wet weather.

Over the rainbow: Lorna Luft, Liza Minnelli and Joey were on the red carpet to watch a tribute to The Wizard Of Oz and their late mother Judy Garland

High jinks: Captain Phillips co-stars Barkhad Abdi and Faysal Ahmed had good fun on the red carpet while Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh sported their own take on tuxedos

Snap happy: Oscar nominee Alfonso Cuaron took a snap of the back of girlfriend Sheherazade Goldsmith's dress

Taking centre stage: The cast of Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom strike a pose on the carpet

They were also joined by Ireland Baldwin, who has been tasked with hosting the red carpet segment for Entertainment Tonight.

The trio of presenters all opted for fairytale inspired gowns for the huge event, with Ireland in a red wine coloured lacy number by Burberry with a split up one side.

The model daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger wore her platinum blonde locks in a boho updo, and also sported nude lipstick and gold strappy sandals.

Do the Angelina: Ireland and Nancy O'Dell flashed some leg in their split dresses while posing with Joe Zee

It's a tough job but someone's got to do it: Ryan Seacrest no doubt was delighted to walk the red carpet alongside a host of glamorous women, including 2007's Miss USA Rachel Smith

Meanwhile Maria Menounos proved what a red carpet pro she is as she arrived in a dazzling white gown, which was backless but otherwise modest and also boasted striking embellished shoulders.

Kelly Ripa was also among the early arrivals, arriving on the carpet with her morning show co-host Michael Strahan in a stunning bright tangerine number.

The news came as organisers scrambled to protect the carpet from the rain, waiting until the last possible moment to unwrap the statues and unveil the carpet, with several umbrellas still on hand for the remaining drizzle.

And... action: Organisers scrambled to unveil the red carpet at the last minute after keeping protective cover on it during the heavy Los Angeles downpours

Not so glamorous now: The Oscar statues had to be wrapped up safely after some of the worst rain Los Angeles has had in years

THE OSCARS 2014: WINNERS LIST

Best Picture12 Years A Slave Best Director Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)

Best Actor in a Leading RoleMatthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress in a Leading Role Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Best Actor in a Supporting RoleJared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years A Slave)

Best Animated FeatureFrozen

Best Live Action Short Film

Helium (Anders Walter, Kim Magnusson)

Best Visual Effects

Gravity (Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk, Neil Corbould)

Best Film Editing

Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger)

Best Sound EditingGravity (Glenn Freemantle)

Best Original ScoreGravity (Steven Price)Best Original ScreenplayHer (Spike Jonze)